Getting ready for Santa

It's been a very full and busy day in the kitchen this Christmas Eve. The girls baked cookies, made fudge (which didn't set and got tossed out), baked pizza muffins for lunch, and helped Bryan as he made four batches of peanut brittle. Meanwhile I made Paleo apple muffins for breakfast, a Paleo breakfast casserole, and three pies for tomorrow.

We attended the 8:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass and Cameron altar served. The combined adult choirs performed for about thirty minutes before Mass and overwhelmed all of us with a beautiful Hallelujah Chorus after Communion. Surprisingly it wasn't crowded at all; there were plenty of seats available. The downpour and lightening outside may have discouraged some from attending. After Mass, the girls were excited to get things ready for Santa's arrival. Brenna placed a cookie and peanut brittle piece, alongside the milk. Cameron created a cross as a gift for Santa.

Bryan opened up the fireplace and set out towels for Santa's wet feet....

Merry Christmas Eve. Sweet dreams to all!

Slump It Fuse It

The WAVE program at Westbrook includes creative mini-courses that rotate every 9 weeks. Cameron gets to request certain classes, though there is no guarantee she'll be assigned to her first choice.

The first 9 weeks she did KWIS news, a short television news program. For that class she worked on-screen doing the weather and behind the camera (literally) as cameraman.

She started this 9 weeks with a 4.5 week "Creativity" course (her 7th choice) and is ending with her first pick, a course called "Slump It Fuse It."

She had to put together a box with gloves, goggles, and apron because they were working with glass. Today she brought home her first project (of two) and I'm super impressed!

I don't know whether you can see the details of this pretty glass, but she cut clear glass and colored glass, added frit (green dots), and full fused it in a kiln. How cool is this!

Brenna's Love Note

Brenna set up this little love note for me using the magnetic poetry set I received years ago from Dove. Can you read it? "mom has unique beauty love daughters". She shaped the rest of the words into a heart.

Parker Grace

Congratulations to Amanda & Brad as they welcome their daughter, Parker Grace. Cameron and Brenna are thrilled to have their first Kelly cousin, born Wednesday, November 24,at 4:23 pm. weighing 8 lbs. 5.3 oz., and measuring 20.5 inches.

Even Bryan was very moved when he received the news. He commented that it was a little different for him since this is his first niece on his side of the family, his brother's child.

When Brad called last night, I could hear the emotion in Bryan's voice and it reminded me of vividly of when he called his mother after Cameron was born.

We both spent a lot time thinking and talking about Donna and how much this new granddaughter would mean to her. We'll all make sure that Parker knows something about her Grandma Donna.

Welcome little Parker! We can't wait to meet you and for a moment be one big Kelly family.

Pumpkin patch

Another year at the pumpkin patch, but this year they don't look like little girls anymore at all.

Chess Club

I've been meaning to post that shortly after school started, Brenna brought home several notices about school clubs she could join. Several of these meet after school (3-4 p.m.)which makes it pretty difficult for a working mom to allow her to participate since the daycare van only picks up right after school.

One club meets in the morning, before school, though they select their members by seniority (returning members) and then by a lottery (draw names.) Brenna expressed an interest, and I signed the permission form. She came home a few days later thrilled beyond belief because her name was chosen for the .... chess club!

Every Tuesday and Thursday she arrives at school before 7:30 in order to play chess with other members for thirty minutes. Apparently there is a "chess master" (volunteer) who goes around watching them play games, teaches them moves, and sometimes plays against a student. She's learned quite a bit and loves showing off her new strategies and skills.

Happy Halloween!!

Cameron & Brenna are enjoying another year of Trick or Treating in our neighborhood. We had to quell Brenna's desire for a scary, bloody, mask or frightening character. She settled on a Ninja costume, but we couldn't find one in her size. Then she discovered this Astrid costume (from the movie How to Train Your Dragon). In case you're unfamiliar with the movie, here's a picture of the character. She's a young viking girl who is tough, energetic, and beautiful with a strong and determined persona. Sound like anyone in this family?? Cameron chose the Mad Scientist idea several weeks ago, though we waited until the last minute to try and find a white lab coat. Ultimately we had to brave the crowds at Party City, but Bryan had gloves and safety goggles to complete the outfit. Cameron tried to make her hair wild and Bryan added the name tag "D. Mento, Scientist."

Bryan took them around the street for about 45 minutes and they returned with a few pounds of sugar. Any bets how long it will take for them to get in bed and settle down?